Tray construction



July 21, 1936. s. B. SMITH TRAY CONSTRUCTION Filed May 14, 1930 & -7

INVENTOR 54/7054 3. $/7/r// ATT ORN EYS Patented July 21, 1936 OFFICE 1 R Y- commonwe- W I I Samuel B; Smith,- Cleveland, OhioJ'assigIior' to r The Smith Incubator Company, Cleveland, w. Ohio, aicorporationof O hio 1'1" Application Mayra 1930, Serial No. 152,429

v 3 Claims. 119-44) 7 u LjThe present invention relates to. the constructionof. large metal trays, and while the invention. is not necessarily limited to the uses specifis cally set forth, it is intended and designed for lfrholding a plurality of -eggsin, incubators.

Theiobjectof the invention is to construct a metal tray which is used to replace :the ordinary wooden frame trays, and which will have advantages'. .of ,.lightness combined with suflicient 10;; strength and rigidity to support properly and safely; large numbersof eggs, The traybeing composed of metal makes it possible to utilize the space within the-incubator to the greatest advantage, as the metal trays will contain a.

larger number of eggs; to" given exterior dimensionsthan is possible with thewooden frame trays in useheretofore.

. Thetrays-are so designed and constructed that they will not bend or warp under theweight of eggs carried :therein,: and can be adequately and safely supported upon carrier chains or any 1 other supporting and turning device which may be employed. One of the main features of the invention is the construction of the tray at the 25 corners thereof, the walls of the tray being securely united and fastened by means of fillets of solder or the like which rigidly connect the side walls with one another and with certain end bracing means so that twisting or torsion of the tray under the Weight of the eggs is prevented. This construction, which will be described in detail in the body of the specification, connects the side walls in such manner that the sides of the tray cannot be easily bent or warped. The 35 method of attachment is superior to riveting or to any other method of fastening known to me.

The new and improved features of construction are useful in other fields, and it is not the intention that the invention should be limited or 40 confined to the particular use set up or to the details of construction specifically described.

In the drawing in which the best known and preferred form of invention is shown:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the improved tray; Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3-is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig 50 ure Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a step in the method of manufacturing; 55 Figure 7 is a horizontal detailed section taken through a corner of the tray showing the means used for securing therigid connection referred to, and illustrated by the line 'l- 'l of Figure 2; and";

Figure 8 is a detailed view of a fragment of a 5 tray; supporting chainshowing the manner in which thetrays are supported, andtilted, and

held in tilted position. v v

Trays such as used for the purposes set forth, marries a. mesh w r ptemaet omw 1129 1: 10 which the eggs are placed, preferably with the long axes of the eggsvertically disposed. This mesh bottom is indicated by the numeral l, and is madeof a sufiiciently heavy screen.

The sides-- or'walls of thetray are composed of a single strip of she'et metalZ, having a vertical walland a horizontal flange or ledge portion 3, and an upper turned downor folded bead 4 which serves to stiifen the tray. In the formation of the, traytheside strip l2 isbent around at three corners of the tray, the flanges above and below being cut away as at 5 to permit the formation of the tray at the corners thereof. After the walls are bent or formed as described, the tray is permanently joined as at 6 to make the rectangular framework. The joining of the ends of the frame at 6, is obtained by means of a soldered fillet or joint, and this soldered fillet is also located at each corner of the tray extending the entire depth. One of these fillets is shown at 'l in Figure '7.

Across the ends of the tray and within the end walls are located the heavy metal end plates 8, which extend across the width of the tray,

bracing the ends and the side walls. These plates are held in position by bringing the upper bead 4 about the upper edge of the end plates, as

shown in Figure 3, and by the solder fillets which fill the spaces between the ends of the bars and the side walls, as well as connecting the wall 40 permanently to the end plate across the angle.

This connects the side walls with the heavier end plates and thus permanently unites the end plates and side walls. By this means the side walls are securely attached to the end plates,

which by their rigidity, hold and brace the side walls so that twisting or torsion thereof is prevented. This method of attachment is superior to any other means known to me, and is a factor in giving the desired rigidity to the tray.

To assist in bracing the tray throughout its length and to support the screen, cross pieces or bars ID are located at selected spaced intervals in the base of the tray and beneath the screen.

In order to locate these bars, the lower flange 3 is cut out at the proper points, as shown at I2, and the bars inserted during the tray forming operation. When the edge portion 9 is bent over to secure the screens in place, the bars are also held firmly in position.

The detailed construction of the trays, as fully described herein, gives a rigid, light and strong tray which will support the weight of a hundred or more eggs without bending or sagging, and at the same time will permit the greatest capacity of eggs within the tray dimensions.

The trays may be used with any type of support in the incubator, or may be used for storing eggs, or other articles as may be desirable. For the purpose of illustration the tray is shown in conjunction with a supporting and lowering chain l5 upon which the trays may be carried and tilted in an incubator. The chain is suspended from the overhead sprocket l6 which is operated by worm and worm gear ll. On each end of the tray is secured a hook member I 8, having an outwardly bent end 20 to engage in the appropriate links on the chain, and to provide the pivots upon which the tray may be tilted in opposite directions. The trays are connected together by the pivotal arms 22 which are located at one corner of the tray "and are arranged to overlap, being held in position by the sliding loops 23. To hold the several stacks of trays in proper tilted position,

removable hooks 24 are used connecting the lowered edge of a tray'in the stack to the appropriate link of the chain as shown in Figure 8. Card holders 25 may also be provided as shown,

comprising a single strip of metal rectangular in form with a single joint, a head on the upper edge of the metal strip, cross plates at the ends of the tray positioned so that said bead extends over the tops of the cross plates and holds them in position, an inwardly extending horizontal flange on the strip of metal, the bottoms of said cross plates resting on said flange, said flange having a reversely bent edge portion, and a wire screen interlocked with the edge portion.

j V 2. A tray for the uses and purposes set forth,

comprising a single strip of metal rectangular in form with a single joint, a head on the upper edge of the metal strip, cross plates at the ends of the tray positioned so that said head extends over the tops'of the cross plates and holds them in position, an inwardly extending horizontal flange on "the strip of metal, the bottoms of said cross plates 3. A tray for the uses and purposes set forth,

comprising a single strip of metal rectangular in form with a single joint, a bead on the upper edge of the, metal strip, cross plates at the ends of the tray positioned so that said head extends over the tops of the cross plates and holds them in position,

fillets of solder in the corners of the tray, an inwardly extending horizontal flange on the strip of metal, the bottoms of said cross plates resting on said flange, said flange having a rever'sely bent portion provided with apertures, a wire screen interlocked with the edge portion, and spaced cross bars resting upon the flange, located beneath the screen and held in said apertures in the reversely bent edge portion.

SAMUEL B. SMITH. 

